Rotary floor polishing machine having horizontally positioned motor



J. P. STEIBEL ROTARY FLOOR POLISHING MACHINE HAVING HORIZONTALLYPOSITIONED MOTOR March 13, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1946MEIIHIIIWJMHHIII!lllllIllHlllllllliillilIlllllI\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\W Ymveu'roz Jaws: P. Jre /asz I 61 W P ATTORNEY J. P. STEIBEL ROTARY FLOORPOLISHING MACHINE HAVING HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED MOTOR March 13, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, 1946 mum-roe James F. 57257554 March 13,1951 J. P. STEIBEL 2,544,862

ROTARY FLOOR POLISHING MACHINE HAVING HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED MOTORFiled April 24, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet s I usm-oe. JAMES 1'. 575/854.

'r-rolzu EV Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARYFLOOR POLISHING MACHINE HAV- ING HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED MOTOR James P.Steibel, Racine, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, to S. C. Johnson& Son, Inc., Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April24, 1946, Serial No. 664,503

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a floor polishing machine. More particularly,it relates to a novel electric floor polisher, adapted for householduse, which employs a rotary brush;

Heretofore small machines of this type used a cylindrical brush, forexample, as illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 1,588,157 to Beach. Whilelarge floor polishing machines have been designed using a rotary brush,as far as known, no machine using a small rotary brush, such as an eightinch diameter brush, has been used commercially. Former attempts todesign a small rotary brush floor polisher were unsuccessful becausewhen the brush was driven, a gyrating motion developed, with a build upof an oscillating movement so that difficulty was experienced keepingthe brush on the floor and in operating the machine. It was found thatthe higher the motor was mounted or positioned above the floor, the moresevere was the gyrating and oscillating motion.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide an improvedlight weight rotary brush polisher wherein the bottom of the motor ispositioned below the top of the brush so that the center of gravity islowered sufiiciently close to th floor to minimize the gyrating andoscillating movement of the machine during operation.

Another object of myinvention is to provide a light weight rotary brushfloor polisher provided with an automatic tensioning means capable ofautomatically adjusting the tension of the drive belt, keeping it taut.

Another object of my invention is to provide an efiicient light weightrotary brush polisher which can be manufactured economically.

A further object is generally to Simplify and improve the construction,arrangement and operation of polishers for one or more of the purposesmentioned, and still other objects will be apparent from thespecification.

The invention includes the construction and arrangement of parts asherein illustrated, described and claimed and, since variousmodifications thereof are contemplated, it will be understood that theinvention also includes such modifications as are equivalent to theclaims.

The same reference characters have been used for the designation of likeparts throughout the specification and in the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the rotary floor polisher. v

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the bail.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the rotary floor polisher.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the casing and gear housing insection.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4and showing the motor in side elevation. I

Fig. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 4showing gear housing.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 'l-'! of Fig.4 showing the motor in elevation.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the motor housing showing the means forattaching the casing.

Fig. 9 is a detailed perspective view of brush, motor support, pivotplug, bearing and motor housing shown in szparated relation toillustrate method of assembly.

Fig. 10 is a detailed perspective view of coupling together with gearand motor shafts with part broken away, shown in separated relation toillustrate method of assembly.

Fig. 11 is a modified form of the invention and is a detailedperspective view of a combined brush and motor support with part brokenaway, showing method of afiixing the bristles.

Discussing now in detail the novel combina-' tion which makes up theimproved rotary brush polisher, the center of a small rotary brush it,for example, a rotary brush with an 8" outside diameter is cut out toabout a 6" inside diameter, leaving 2" of bristles around the outsidediameter. A motor support II, which may conveniently be made in theshape of a cup with flanged outside diameter I2, having a plurality ofscrew holes l3 in the flanged part for securing the motor support II tothe rotary brush in by means of a plurality of wood screws M, or othersuitable means. is preferably made of metal because of the importance ofobtaining weight at that point in the polisher which helps stabilize themachine. The motor support ll acts both as a support for the motor l5and as a base for the brush It. The bottom of the motor support II ispositioned as close to the floor as practical, but is preferabl to leaveat least one-half inch to allow for wearing of the brush bristles l6before replacement of the rotary brush is necessary. It is to beunderstood that this describes only one form of the combined brush andmotor support, as this complete element may also be made in one piece,if desired,'as shown in Fig. 11.

In Fig. 11 the brush Ill is made from a motor support ll, having aflanged outside diameter [2, except that the screw holes [3 are replacedby a plurality of bristle holes 49, and a flanged portion 50 is aflixedto the flanged outside diameter I 2, for example, by welding. Thisflanged portion 50 is so shaped as to form a U-shaped pulley groove 40on the outside periphery 39 of the brush [0, and to assist in holdingthe bristles The motor support ll 3 1B in position. The bristles (5 aredoubledand inserted into the bristle holes 49 so as to form a pluralityor eyelets 5| through which is threadedaplurality-of wires 52.

A pivot plug 11, preferably of steel, having a spun or flanged end (8 iscentered and aflixed the inside of the motor support H, for example,- bymeans of a plurality of screws [9. If desired; a small knob 20 may beimpressed-i irthe center of the motor support II to act as a convenientcentering means for easy a sem ly-oi phe pivst plug H. The outer race ofball bearing 21 ;is secured to the motor housing 22 by any suitablemeans, such as by pressing or riveting, ahd the motor housing 22 andbearing 2| are fitted over the pivot plug 11 with the inner race of thebearing embracing the mu ll. Thus the motor is is centered and held armyin jpo'sition fby means of tne'pivct plug l1" and bearing'2lfand restson the bottom of the motor'support' l l with. in preferably one-halfinch of the floor.

The method of assembling these parts is'shown ind'etail in Fig. 9. "Thepivot plug 11 is fitted into the ball bearing 21, with the burred endilti securely resting against the inner race of the ball bearing2l. Theball bearing Zlfwithithe pivot plug l! in position is secured'firmly totheinotor housing 22, forexample, by pressing it'into the housing. "Themotor housing 22, with ball hearing '2| and pivot plug 1'1 impositioni's'then securely afixedto-the motor support i tby means of-=a pluralityof screws Hengaging the plug ll.

i A worm gear-housing 25 is slidably mounted on the motor housing' 2 2and guided by a plurality oil-pins 24. Thepi'ns 24 areas'lidingr fit inthe gear housing -25 and pressed tightly into the motor housing 22.This; allows the gear housing 25 to slide backand forth, being urgedirione direetion'by acompression-spring 2B, but-prevents the gearhousing 25 from rotating. The compres sion spring 26 is fittedagainst-the motor housing Nanci-against the bearing 2! in thegear-housing 25. This acts thereforeas an automatic tension ingmeans-ancl-alsoserves to holdthebearin 21 int-hegear housing 25 securelyin place. The-assembly ofthe driving oonnectioneis illustratedin detailin Fig. 10, The-ends of the gear shaft 23 and motor shaft 39 maybeslotted. A coupling 3 i; preferably ofsteel, having a tongue 32is-posi;tioned-over the outside diameter-oi the gear shaft 29 and motorshaft 3!] and thetongue 32- is positioned within the slots oft-he gearshaft- 29 and mot0r-shaft-3ll, and the coupling is positioned as'shownat33. The tongue- 32 may be made of one piece of metal or material; ofsufficient structural strength, but is preferably constructed of aplurality of pieces of spring steelpositioned within the coupling 3L Thedriving means 3 is a conventional; right angle wormgear I 35 and wormwheel 35 with:

pulley-31. A belt 38 is afiixed around the pulley 31 and around theoutside periphery 39 of the rotary brush [0. If desired, theoutsideperiph'ery 39 of the brushl'o may be shaped to form-a U -shapedpulley groove MI. The belt is kept automatically tautby the compressionspring 26.

A bail it-may be attached to'pivot 'trunnions 42 which are preferablypositioned offthe center lineof the motor ifr-in order to bring thehandle 43 in line with 'machine symmetry. :However the pivot-trunnions42 may be. positioned else- Where in the assembly if desired.

The assembly is provided with axcasing'or hood 44 havinga bottom apron'45:and fastener springs or clamps 46 which are secured to the tfiebasing.Miin :positiomwith the clamps 46 ahiired to the motor lugs 4'1, andalso shows the ball {I attached to the pivot trunnions 42.

3 shows that the bottom of the motor su port ll maybe ribbed, as at 48,if desired to strengthen the motor support I I.

From the foregoing description, it can thus be seen that the objects ofthis invention have been accomplished in this novel rotary brushpolisher. By providing means for mounting the motor wherebythe'bottom iscloser to the floor than the :top of the rotary brush, a means has beenprovided for minimizing and practically eliminating the heretoforeexcessive-gyrating and oscillating "movements which occur, during theoperation of small rotary polisher. "This machine'has provided a longfelt need in the art of floor polishing machines providing the housewifewith .a compact, attractive and erficient rotaryfloor' polisher.

Man lapparen'tly widely different embodimentso'f this'invention may bemade without departing from thefprinciple, breadth. and spirit thereof,and it is tobe understood, therefore, that thisinventioin'is not limitedto'thespecific embodiments thereof except as encompassed by thefollowing claims.

I claim:

i. A rotary floor polishing machine comprising, a ino'tor having ,ahousin an aho'riz ontally. extending. shaft, a support-member jouinalled on said motor housing atith'ebott'omthereof at iotation on a'vrticalaxis, saidsuppoftmember having portions extending upwardlyputwardly of the sides of said motor .housing to a level above th-e'-bottoin of said .metdrziipusni an annular brush arranged concentricallyabout i said axis' andsecuredv to said upwardly extending-portions abovethe bottom of said -motor'housing, said brush having bristles extendingdownwardly from an upper level:- above the bottom of saidsupport memberto a level below said motor housing and support member and outwardly ofthe latter-,and drive means coi'inectingsaid horizontal shaftand brushradiallyoutwardly of said-motor and above the saidbottomof said :motorhousing.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises. apulleycarried by said motor housingand driverrby-said' shaft to rotateon a vertical axi's, saidapulley being supported radially outwardly ofsaid brush, and .a' belt trained over said pulley and around the. outerperiphery-of said annular brush at substantially-the level-of the topsof said bristles.

3. A machine as defined: in claimJZ wherein said brush is provided" witha peripheralqbelt-Teceiving groove about its upper portion; aid: groovelying substantially co -planar; With' sai'di-pulley.

4. A machine as definedin claim: 2 wherein said -pulle :is=mounted forradial movement on said motor housing; and means normallyurgingsaidpulley radially outwardly to maintairp :s'a'id belt taut. g g

5. A machine as defined in olaim'; l wherein said support member:comprisesfia dish-shaped element having an outwardly eXtendingp'erip'h-' eral flange a-tiitsuppe'r edge; said flange overlyingand'beingfastened toitthe upper surface "ct -said annular brush.

6-..:;.A-.-mabhin-asdefinbd in claim l inchidirig a handle pivoted tosaid motor housingpn aihori zontal axis below the top of said annularbrush.

7. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said support member isprovided with an upwardly extending and centrally located boss, adownwardly facing recess in the bottom of said motor housing, said bossextending into said recess to journal said support member to said motorhousing.

8. A machine as defined in claim 7, including a handle pivoted to saidmotor housing on a horizontal axis, said axis being substantially at thelevel of said boss and recess.

9. A rotary floor polishing machine comprising, a motor having a housingand a horizontally extending shaft, a rotary structure journalled onsaid motor housing at the bottom thereof for rotation on a verticalaxis, said rotary structure having an upper portion extending upwardlyoutwardly of the sides of said motor housing to a level above the bottomthereof, said rotary structure supporting an annulus of bristlesextending from a level above the bottom of the motor housing downwardlybeyond said motor housing and rotary structure and arrangedconcentrically therearound, and drive means connecting said horizontalshaft and rotary structure radially outwardly of said motor and abovethe said bottom of said motor housing.

10. A machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said rotary structurecomprises a dish-shaped element having an outwardly extending peripheralflange at its upper edge, said flange having said bristles fixeddirectly thereto.

11. A machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said drive means includesan endless belt and wherein an annular element is fixed to the bottom ofsaid flange, said annular element having a downwardly directed portionengaging said annulus of bristles throughout the outer periphery thereofand an outwardly directed portion spaced downwardly from said flange,said outwardly directed portion defining, with said flange, a beltgroove to receive said endless belt.

JAMES P. STEIBEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS, Number Name Date 968,934 Goughnour Aug. 30, 19101,011,954 Herr Dec. 19, 1911 1,387,285 Maire Aug. 9, 1921 1,424,879Carlstedt Aug. 8, 1922 1,588,157 Beach June 8, 1926 1,609,508 CavicchiDec. 7, 1926 1,650,690 Cavicchi Nov. 29, 1927 1,829,132 Finnell Oct. 27,1931 1,934,088 Ponselle Nov. 7, 1933 2,079,946 Myers May 11, 19372,113,475 Faber Apr. 5, 1938 2,142,697 Myers Jan. 3, 1939 2,252,269McQuown Aug. 12, 1941 2,268,015 Broberg Dec. 30, 1941 2,316,805Overholser Apr. 20, 1943 2,359,223 Kitto Sept. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 268,221 Great Britain Mar. 31, 1927 254,041 ItalyJuly 11, 1927 12,410 Australia Mar. 20, 1928 285,489

Great Britain June 21, 1938

